The Sunflower Mystery Continues
I have posted twice about my attempts to grow sunflowers this year. Initially, the tiny starts I set out simply vanished within two days. There was no indication of deer, so I suspected rodents, birds or insects. I scattered old raspberry canes over the area when I replanted, hoping to deter whatever culprit was around. The little plants came up, and soon began to disappear again. So I rigged up some bird netting over their raised bed, hoping to deter birds. For a few days I thought I had the problem solved, but whatever the critter is, it has started in again. Now I am wondering if it is grasshopper work, in which case there isn't a whole lot I can do about it. Maybe I just won't have sunflowers this year!
But the sunflowers aren't the only plant starts that have been in trouble. The calendula and collards (especially the collards) I set out have been trimmed down to just a stem remaining, at most. I had extras, which are still in their little pots up on my deck, growing beautifully up there. I am reluctant to put them out in the garden for some pest to eat.
I would appreciate any input regarding what might be causing the damage in the garden this year, as well as suggestions for dealing with it. Thank you in advance!
You've been visited by @minismallholding from Homesteaders Co-op.
Being in a hot country, most of our plant nibblers come out at night. So I usually go out after dark with a torch to see what's eating them. Our main culprits are weavils and European earwigs, which I collect and feed to the chickens in the morning. Sometimes I'll put a plastic collar around the seedlings (cut from an old milk bottle) until they get a bit bigger and can cope with more nibbling. It's not a complete deterrent, but it does seem to discourage a certain amount of smaller creatures from decimating seedlings early on. Even the birds seem a bit put off by them.
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The weather is usually hot only in July and August where I live, but this year it was warmer than usual in late May and early June. Perhaps some pest was there earlier than usual because of that, and is enjoying the smaller seedlings. We are now getting the cooler weather that should have been here in early June. Better late than never!